Costly divorce adds to financial woes for single mom

Sunday

Jan 6, 2013 at 2:00 AM

Leslie is no stranger to facing tough situations with grace, but a divorce pushed her to need financial help. "It just seemed like I was bombarded with everything," said Leslie, which is not her real name.

Robyn Keriazes

Leslie is no stranger to facing tough situations with grace, but a divorce pushed her to need financial help. "It just seemed like I was bombarded with everything," said Leslie, which is not her real name.

Due to a chronic spine condition, Leslie is unable to work and has been a stay-at-home mother for years. Now, without additional income from her husband, supporting herself and her teenage daughter is suddenly far more difficult.

Leslie's daughter is also disabled. She suffers from scoliosis, is on the autism spectrum and has needed several foot surgeries over the past several years, Leslie said.

In addition to medical expenses, Leslie must also now pay legal fees. Leslie and her husband have been separated for about two years, she said, and they are still in the middle of a lengthy divorce process.

"I want it all done and over with, but it's not going well with what he wants," Leslie said. "It's been a long time."

Although Leslie was able to secure a lawyer, classes and mediation at a lower rate due to her low income, going through a divorce has been expensive in addition to emotionally difficult for herself and her daughter, she said. Every phone call or letter her lawyer must send costs her money.

"It's killing me. Everything went on my credit card," Leslie said. "I'm hoping when the divorce is over and I know what's going on I'll be in a better situation."

Leslie has also been hit with expenses including a broken car windshield and the spending that comes with the holiday season, she said.

She first approached Rockingham Community Action for help last year. Her mother, who knew about her financial troubles, told her about the organization and brought her to her first appointment.

"It's embarrassing," she said. "I was grateful, because I wasn't able to do it on my own, but it was hard."

Last winter, RCA found Leslie was just $6 over the income limit for federal fuel assistance. Because she was so close to the limit and still in need of help, RCA selected her as a recipient for the Gift of Warmth.

The Gift of Warmth is a partnership of RCA, Seacoast Media Group and other local nonprofits. It is designed to raise heating assistance funds for expenses above and beyond what the agencies can fund on their own and assists families in need, who, for any number of reasons, may not qualify for federal assistance but cannot afford to buy heating fuel.

"I thank everybody," Leslie said. "If it wasn't for them, I don't know what I would have done."

In addition to the Gift of Warmth, Leslie received some assistance from RCA toward an electric bill last winter, she said.

As a testament to the help RCA gave her, Leslie in turn encouraged her mother to make an appointment with the organization for herself this year to locate resources that could assist her with paying for medicine, she said. "She finally, after helping me through everything, went down there herself," Leslie said.

Leslie said she is unsure whether she will receive fuel assistance again this year but, due to the continuing expenses of her divorce, may need the help.

How to help

Tax-deductible donations can be made by sending a check made out for any amount to SMG c/o Gift of Warmth, 111 New Hampshire Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801. To apply for fuel assistance, call RCA at 431-2911. The main office is at 4 Cutts St. in Portsmouth.

Donations

This week's donations to the Gift of Warmth campaign brought the three-week total to $30,676. Donors over the past week include:

Barbara & Darel Fletcher: $100

Terrence Fisher & Lynn Papineau: $250

Cheryl & Jerry Centers: $25

In memory of our son Keeko M.: $50

Women's City Club: $50

Ann & John Walker: $25

Anonymous: $200

Debra Chase & Paul Biron: $50

Anonymous: $250

Charley & Pat Beatty: $100

Mary & Thomas Lambert: $100

In loving memory of Margie Keenan from Vicki: $20

Charlie Moore & Michelle Tyminski: $100

Anonymous: $500

John & Susan Mitchell: $150

Chester Meade: $50

Ann & Arthur Ditto: $50

Lee Rubin & Lucy Salyer: $100

Janet Taylor: $50

Karen & Nathan Ellis: $50

Anonymous: $1,000

Marilyn & Michael Miller: $100

In memory of Pat Towle from the family of Janet "Cookie" Wiggin: $100

David & Linda Muchemore: $50

In memory of William A. Hamilton: $100

Priscilla Stevens French: $100

Anonymous: $100

Ellen & Walt Pattonv $100

Anonymous: $50

Jill & William Compton: $100

Ellen Cohn: $100

Elizabeth Hartnett: $100

Elaine Brooks: $25

Geraldine Palmer: $25

Anonymous: $100

In memory of Timothy Hersey: $100

Faulstich Family Charitable Foundation: $100

Christina Lusky Burns: $25

Anonymous: $50

Thomas Bergeron: $100

Anonymous: $200

The Gallants: $2,000

From the employees at Tobey & Merrill Insurance: $300

Jean Bartlett: $25

Gary & Patricia Kish: $100

Anne & Rodney Barker: $75

Antonio & Diane Marino: $100

Maj. George M. Stare: $100

Gail & Newman Goodwin: $100

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.

Advertise

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
seacoastonline.com ~ 111 New Hampshire Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service